Display element

Abstract

Display is effected by utilizing bubbles formed in a liquid layer by heat.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A display element for display of a visible image, said element comprising a non-light-transmittive liquid layer and a heat generating element disposed behind said liquid layer to produce bubbles in said liquid layer in accordance with selective heating of different portions of said heat generating element; wherein the contrast between the image and non-image sections of the display element is based on the difference between the light reflected from behind said liquid layer and the light reflected from said liquid layer.   
     
     
       2. A display element for display of a visible image, said element comprising a light-transmissive liquid layer and a heat generating element disposed behind said liquid layer to produce bubbles in said liquid layer in accordance with selective heating of different portions of said heat generating element; wherein the contrast between the image and non-image sections of the display element is based on the difference between light reflected from points behind each bubble and from points behind light-transmissive liquid.   
     
     
       3. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said heat generating element is disposed in contiguity to, or in contact with, said liquid layer. 
     
     
       4. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said heat generating element is a radiation ray absorbing layer. 
     
     
       5. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said heat generating element is a heat generating resistive member. 
     
     
       6. The display element according to claim 1, wherein said liquid layer consists of a colored liquid. 
     
     
       7. The display element according to claim 1, wherein said liquid layer consists of a light dispersing liquid. 
     
     
       8. The display element according to claim 2, wherein the liquid layer and the heat generating element are light-transmissive. 
     
     
       9. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a reflecting layer or a light diffusion layer is interposed between said heat generating element and said liquid layer. 
     
     
       10. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the interface of contact between said heat generating element and said liquid layer is light-diffusive. 
     
     
       11. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a colored filter layer or a non-light-transmitting color forming layer to form color in the bubble portion. 
     
     
       12. The display element according to claim 11, wherein said colored filter layer or said non-light-transmitting color forming layer is constituted of an assembly of a plurality of divided different color portions. 
     
     
       13. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said heat generating element is constituted of a plurality of heat generating portions arranged in a dot-matrix form. 
     
     
       14. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a heating element to heat said liquid layer to an extent such that no bubble is produced. 
     
     
       15. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a pressure absorbing member. 
     
     
       16. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising cooling means. 
     
     
       17. The display element according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a corrosion-resistant layer. 
     
     
       18. A display device for display of a visible image, said device comprising a display element consisting essentially of a non-light-transmissive liquid layer and a heat generating element disposed behind said liquid layer to produce bubbles in said liquid layer in accordance with selective heating of different portions of said heat generating element and a liquid circulation conduit communicatively connected with said liquid; wherein the contrast between the image and non-image sections of the display element is based on the difference between the light reflected from behind said liquid layer and the light reflected from said liquid layer.   
     
     
       19. A display device for display of a visible image, said device comprising a display element consisting essentially of a light-transmissive liquid layer and a heat generating element disposed behind said liquid layer to produce bubbles in said liquid layer in accordance with selective heating of different portions of said heat generating element and a liquid circulation conduit communicatively connected with said liquid layer; wherein the contrast between the image and non-image sections of the display element is based on the difference between light reflected from points behind each bubble and from points behind light-transmissive liquid.   
     
     
       20. The display device according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the liquid in said liquid layer is subjected to evaporation and liquefaction on the way of said liquid circulation conduit. 
     
     
       21. The display device according to claim 18 or claim 19, further comprising pressure reducing means provided on the way of said liquid circulation conduit. 
     
     
       22. The display device according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein said liquid layer and said heat generating element are disposed is contiguity to, or in contact with, each other. 
     
     
       23. The display device according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein said heat generating element is a radiation ray absorbing layer. 
     
     
       24. The display device according to claim 22, wherein said heat generating element is a radiation ray absorbing layer. 
     
     
       25. The display device according to claim 18 or claim 19, further comprising signal input means to introduce into said display element a signal due to radiation ray in accordance with image information. 
     
     
       26. An image display method which comprises producing bubbles in a non-light transmissive liquid layer with a heating element disposed behind said liquid layer and forming a visible image utilizing said bubbles as picture elements such that the image contrast is based on the difference between the light reflected from behind said liquid layer and the light reflected from said liquid layer. 
     
     
       27. An image display method which comprises producing bubbles in a light-transmissive liquid layer with a heating element disposed behind said liquid layer and forming a visible image utilizing said bubbles as picture elements such that the image contrast is based on the difference between light reflected from points behind each bubble and from points behind light-transmissive liquid. 
     
     
       28. The display method according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein a plurality of picture elements are formed by heating a plurality of points in said liquid layer to produce bubbles therein, and said picture elements are assembled to form visual image. 
     
     
       29. The image display method according to claim 26 or claim 27, further comprising projecting an image derived from said bubbles as the picture elements.